Device for producing ventholes in cans or the like



W. A. COONE DEVICE FOR PRODUCING VEN'IHOLES IN CANS ORITHE LIKE Nov.'11, 1941.

Filed Dec. 4, 1939 Q Patented Nov. 11', 1941 U ITED STAT PATE T O FInsvrcn ma raonucma moms in cams on ma mm wnum A. Coons, Elgln, Ill.

Appllcatlon December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,537

Claims. (CL 30-16) My invention relates to improvements in devices forproducing ventholes in cans or the like and its general object is toprovide a device of this character which will produce a circularventhole of any desired size, within the limitation of the diameter ofthe conical punching portion, and which is particularly adapted for usein connection with cans containing liquids, such as hereinafter morefully appear and which will be more particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference is now made to the accompanying drawingforming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, disclosing the preferred form of myimproved device, showing its application to use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the lower portion ofmy device;

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged view, partly broken away, illustrating theannular lands and grooves of the puncturing cone;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, of a modificationwherein the shoulder portion is separate; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of my device, whereinthe puncturing cone is provided with a milled surface.

Referring now to the drawing in which similar reference charactersrepresent similar parts, particular reference being made to Figs. 1, 2and 3, my improved device comprises a handle portion III, which may beof wood, metal, glass, any of the well known plastics, or any otherapproprlate suitable material. The handle Iii is provided with a reducedportion i2 adapted to receive an annular cap it of metal or the like.Cap I4 is provided with a circular opening through which the shankportion 18 of the conical punching portion l8 may be fitted into anannular recess in the lower end of the handle I, where it may be glued,cemented, or otherwise firmly afilxed. Interposed between the shank l6and the top of the conical punching portion l8, and formed as anintegraI portion thereof, is an annular shoulder 20, of the samecircumference as cap It. The conical punching portion I8 is providedwith a series of annular minute grooves 22 and corresponding minutelands 2|, asclearly shown in Fig. 3, which is drawn on a greatlyenlarged scale. The purpose of these lands and grooves is to retard orhalt the movement of the device when in use, so that the puncturingmovement may be stopped when a venthole of the desired diameter has beenproduced. It will be readily apparent that if the conical puncturingportion were smooth, as in all the devices of a similar nature of whichapplicant is aware, it being necessary to apply a considerable force tostart the puncture, the movement cannot be stopped, or at least it isnot feasible to stop the movement, until the shoulder of the devicestrikes the can. This results in large ventholes, whereas smaller holesare frequently desired. Such smaller holes can readily be made by theuse of my improved device, since the movement, due to the retardingaction of the successively larger lands and grooves, is momentarilyhalted or retarded as each successive land strikes the unopened surfaceof the can.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 4, the shoulder Ill-a isseparate from the shank I8a and conical puncturing portion i8-a and maybe welded or otherwise suitably afllxed to these portions. Forming theshoulder as a separate piece may be advisable to reduce manufacturingcosts. The conical puncturing portion is provided with annular grooves22-4 and interposed lands 24-41., similar to those shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 5, the parts are thesame as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the surface of the conicalpuncturing portion Iii-b is milled as indicated at 28-17. This milledsurface serves to retard the puncturing movement, as heretoforeexplained, so that the movement may be halted at any desired point.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in some detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to suchdetails, but only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for producing ventholes in cans or the like, comprising ahandle, a conical punch affixed to the handle, the surface of the punchbeing provided with annular grooves and lands.

2. A device for producing ventholes in cans or the like, comprising ahandle, a conical punch atfixed to the handle, the surface of the punchbeing provided with annular grooves and lands,

said lands and grooves being adapted to retard the device in its openingmovement.

3. A device for producing ventholesin cans or' the like, comprising ahandle, a conical punch affixed to the handle, the surface of the punchbeing provided with a milled surface.

c 4. A device for producing ventholes in cans or the like, comprising ahandle, a conical punch affixed to the handle, the surface of the punchbeing provided with a milled surface, said milled m surface beingadapted to retard the device in- WILLIAM A. COONE.

